Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Rarotonga Cost of Living Comparison Between Tbilisi and Rarotonga

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,199 in Tbilisi versus $1,355 in Rarotonga.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,833 in Tbilisi versus $2,003 in Rarotonga.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,466 in Tbilisi versus $2,650 in Rarotonga.

Living in Tbilisi costs roughly 12% less than in Rarotonga, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Tbilisi is 11% below, Rarotonga is 1% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Rarotonga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.86 ₾29.20
$12.13 NZ$20.50
-10.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.33 ₾117
$59.4 NZ$100
-27.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.25 ₾22.19
$7.72 NZ$13.04
6.87%
Cappuccino
$3.10 ₾8.33
$4.42 NZ$7.48
-29.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80 ₾2.15
$3.42 NZ$5.77
-76.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ₾1.24
$2.89 NZ$4.88
-84.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.16 ₾5.81
$6.67 NZ$11.28
-67.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94 ₾7.92
$5.53 NZ$9.34
-46.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Rarotonga
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.93 ₾5.19
$2.20 NZ$3.72
-12.27%
White Bread (500g)
$0.67 ₾1.81
$2.87 NZ$4.84
-76.66%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.82 ₾4.91
$1.49 NZ$2.51
22.15%
Eggs
$2.56 ₾6.88
$6.48 NZ$10.95
-60.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.61 ₾20.48
$8.89 NZ$15.02
-14.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.51 ₾17.50
$7.05 NZ$11.92
-7.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.67 ₾26.00
$7.15 NZ$12.09
35.24%
Apples (1kg)
$1.16 ₾3.12
$3.05 NZ$5.15
-61.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 ₾4.36
$3.03 NZ$5.12
-46.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 ₾5.04
$3.68 NZ$6.21
-49.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 ₾6.26
$2.94 NZ$4.97
-20.75%
Potato (1kg)
$0.65 ₾1.75
$1.78 NZ$3.01
-63.48%
Onion (1kg)
$0.63 ₾1.70
$1.38 NZ$2.33
-54.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 ₾3.17
$1.76 NZ$2.97
-32.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 ₾1.90
$3.69 NZ$6.23
-81.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.04 ₾8.17
$14.84 NZ$25.07
-79.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.27 ₾19.56
$11.95 NZ$20.19
-39.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₾4.27
$3.56 NZ$6.01
-55.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30 ₾6.18
$5.46 NZ$9.22
-57.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Rarotonga
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₾0.96
$2.96 NZ$5.00
-87.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.68 ₾39.48
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.50 ₾4.03
$20.86 NZ$35.26
-92.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.70 ₾1.87
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.35 ₾19.78
$36.20 NZ$61.2
-79.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.13 ₾3.05
$1.86 NZ$3.15
-39.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.2K ₾49.0K
$12.3K NZ$20.8K
48.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.2K ₾54.5K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Rarotonga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$74.0 ₾199
$92.0 NZ$155
-19.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.87 ₾31.93
$30.46 NZ$51.5
-61.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.55 ₾47.20
$105 NZ$178
-83.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Rarotonga
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.3 ₾162
$25.30 NZ$42.76
138.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.69 ₾44.89
$23.83 NZ$40.28
-29.96%
Cinema Ticket
$6.73 ₾18.10
$7.13 NZ$12.05
-5.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Rarotonga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$261 ₾703
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,146 ₾13.8K
$1,433 NZ$2,422
259.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Rarotonga
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.6 ₾209
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.48 ₾117
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 ₾318
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 ₾298
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Rarotonga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$703 ₾1,891
$491 NZ$829
43.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$457 ₾1,231
$474 NZ$801
-3.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,346 ₾3,621
$718 NZ$1,214
87.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$788 ₾2,120
$722 NZ$1,220
9.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,560 ₾6,885
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,443 ₾3,881
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Rarotonga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$648 ₾1,742
$4,055 NZ$6,853
-84.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.89
8
48.63%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Tbilisi: April 21, 2026

Last update for Rarotonga: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $703 in Tbilisi and $491 in Rarotonga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rarotonga pays 526% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $43 in Tbilisi vs $59 in Rarotonga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $341 per month, with Tbilisi cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Tbilisi vs Rarotonga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Rarotonga?
Tbilisi wins on cost – living expenses run 13% lower than in Rarotonga. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tbilisi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Tbilisi or Rarotonga?
On paper, Rarotonga earns 526% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Tbilisi vs Rarotonga?
Rent for a central apartment: $703 in Tbilisi versus $491 in Rarotonga. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Tbilisi compared to Rarotonga?
All in, you'll spend $1,199 per month in Tbilisi versus $1,355 in Rarotonga – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Are groceries more expensive in Tbilisi or Rarotonga?
Supermarket bills run roughly 65% higher in Rarotonga. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Tbilisi or Rarotonga?
At $1,199 in Tbilisi versus $1,355 in Rarotonga, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tbilisi but tight or insufficient in Rarotonga. The gap between the two cities makes Tbilisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or Rarotonga?
Both work as nomad bases, but Tbilisi delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,199 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Tbilisi hard to pass up.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to Rarotonga?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Rarotonga are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Tbilisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Rarotonga. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Tbilisi vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities